Watching some games from 2009 - offense then and now

[ThoughtExperiment]

Been watching some games from 2009 the last couple of days, and I can't help but notice how much better our offense is. The difference is ridiculous. And it's not like that was some Hall of Fame O line, or Marion Barber was Tony Dorsett. Tony is still getting pressured plenty, but we're getting the ball out of his hands quicker, running that quick slipscreen to Ogletree and even RW11, and using plenty of draw plays.

I'm not a big Garrett fan to say the least, but if he could do it then, why can't he now? What accounts for the huge difference? Is he thinking he should save some stuff for later? Is he too predictable? Is he trying to be so unpredictable that we can't get in a rhythm?

What the hell is it?

 

[cmd34]

He has no feel for a gameplan. It was just assumed he would be this brilliant playcaller. He was a back-up QB, he was a QB coach for 2 years, and he went to an Ivy league school. No reason to actually develop his playcalling, just insert him into the spot and he'll figure it out.


Shorter answer. Jason Garrett sucks.

 

[ThoughtExperiment]

I'm the last guy to defend Garrett. Well, maybe I'm behind UVA. lol

But seriously, I'm trying to figure out the real actual reasons for the drop off in production. It doesn't look like our plays are exactly the same and teams know what's coming. Or maybe that's the problem, that we aren't sticking with the things we do well long enough to be really good at them.

One of the few things I can come up with is that we might miss Bennett's blocking. But that can only a small part of it.

 

[Bob Sacamano]

You addressed it in your post. He took out a lot of plays that go towards beating a blitz, or at the least, cause the D to ease up off the edges.

 

[ThoughtExperiment]

Okay, but why would he do that?

 

[Bob Sacamano]

Okay, but why would he do that?

Because he's a Don Coryell disciple.

Well, he wishes he were.

 

[Midswat]

I think he's predictable. I don't know who our offensive quality control coach is, but it's usually their job to track tendencies in situations/down and distances, etc. Either our guy isn't worth a shat or Jason Garrett doesn't listen to him or what.

But we seem very predictable in what we do in most situations.

 

[Bob Sacamano]

The problem is is that he takes a group of 5 overmatched guys on the Oline, or at the least, a mash-up that needs time to gel, and then forces his O down their throats. One that requires to think about what they need to do, then have to see what's happening in front of them, have to worry about the guy they barely know beside of them, all while they are holding up for 4-5 seconds.

 

[junk]

I think there are a bunch of factors. Obviously the OL is one. I also think Garrett over complicates things with all the pre-snap adjustments. That doesn't help guys like Bryant.

I don't think Garrett adapts well either. If a defense stops him in one case or adapting his offense to the ability of his players

Then finally I don't think he has any feel for the flow of a game. Knowing how to get an offense into a rhythm

 

[cmd34]

I think he's predictable. I don't know who our offensive quality control coach is, but it's usually their job to track tendencies in situations/down and distances, etc. Either our guy isn't worth a shat or Jason Garrett doesn't listen to him or what.

But we seem very predictable in what we do in most situations.

He is most likely a Garrett or a Jones.

 

[Midswat]

It was Wes Phillips last I knew.

 

[cmd34]

Actually it's this guy.

http://www.dallascowboys.com/team/coaches/keith-oquinn/2afc2610-4f29-4212-9997-86448b9a43a7

Keith O'Quinn ???

 

[Everlastingxxx]

That 2009 team was always shooting itself in the foot with dumb penalties. I am not sure we know enough about this offense yet. The O-line is obviously overmatched and the tackles have regressed. Throw in dumb penalties and costly turnovers. They can move the ball through the air, #4 in passing offense. I think they get their ground game going this weekend. Ravens run a similar style of defense.

 

[UVAwahoos]

Sounds to me like RW11 is the missing link here. I think he's available.

 

[UVAwahoos]

I think we saw the real Ginger in Minnesota that season. The win at New Orleans was admirable, but that team really took advantage of a very weak schedule outside of a couple key games.

I agree with most of the stuff Junk said. Ginger clearly cannot adjust to situations within a game. It's no secret now that all a D has to do is pressure this porous OL and it'll disrupt Romo enough to force turnovers. They've yet to adjust around that issue for 3 straight games now.

How many times did we see a Landry, Parcells or Jimmy-coached team come out looking completely different after halftime? Hell, Dallas was on the verge of losing Super Bowl 28 until god knows how badly Jimmy chewed their asses in the locker room at the half and clearly made some huge adjustments. They came out and immediately forced a Thurman Thomas fumble and put 7 points on the board.

I haven't seen that at all since Ginger came here. If an opponent comes out hot and starts destroying us, things just usually snowball from there and get worse. The 44-6 and 34-3 games prove that pretty well.

 

[lons]

How many teams win with both starting tackles out of the game? You really blame Minnesota on him? Seriously?

 

[UVAwahoos]

Did I stutter there or something?

Show me the skins on Ginger's wall that merit such confidence and loyalty from some of you blind believers.

He hasn't been to able to adjust both with and without injuries, so y'all need to stop being so quick to excuse him when the team collapses.

I've never been part of a fanbase so desperate to see a shitty, unqualified coach succeed.

We barely got Avery Johnson out of town, and now we're dealing with the orange-glowing part II of that nightmare.

 

[dbair1967]

Really not that hard to figure out. The OL went from being better than average to a train wreck.

 

[ZeroClub]

Really not that hard to figure out. The OL went from being better than average to a train wreck.

That's right. And add the TE positions too. Witten hasn't been as good as his former self this year; Bennett was more effective than the current #2 TE.

The 7 players on the line of scrimmage this year (i.e., TE, OT, G, C, G, OT, TE) simply are not playing as well as the same 7 positions did a few years ago. That's a big deal. It has a significant impact on the effectiveness of the offense.

I don't buy that Garrett's play calling is to blame for the decline. He's always lacked a certain feel for the game IMO. That hasn't changed.

If you want to blame Garrett for something, focus on the player personnel decisions (in which he had a role).

 

[dbair1967]

Yeah I have a hard time blaming playcalling when anyone with half a brain can look and see we simply cant block up front. The pass protection was better vs Chicago than the previous two games, but the run blocking has been the worst I've ever seen for 3 consecutive games now. No playcaller is going to have any success when you cant block. There are no magic playcalls that consistently overcome the inability to play fundamentally sound football.